Captain America 3, Captain Marvel 9, Daredevil 22, New Avengers 2

I would normally try not to review 4/5 of my picks for the week on the first day of the week but these all deserve some immediate recognition.

Captain America 3
Remender (w) and Romita Jr. (a)

I really like this series so far. There's a humanity to Steve here that hasn't been for a while. It's not because Brubaker didn't know his humanity or know that he had it, it's just a different sort of humanity. For all of his inspirational speeches and his leadership, Steve is often more introspective than you'd think. It comes out a lot when writers delve into the "I was never meant to be Captain America, just one in an army" kind of mentality. I think it's also the sort of look at a soldier in the kind of Wilfred Owen way. He's a hero, for sure, he doesn't regret that he's fought, but he hates that he's had to and he knows the costs. Steve is far more sure in his convictions than most other heroes (though he's willing to listen to and often understand the convictions of others) so it never comes off like self-doubt or anything along those lines. It's more the sort of "I know what I need to do, I need to figure out how to do it."

That comes up a lot in this book. Cap psyches himself up to make sure he keeps fighting for his end goals and is constantly aware of what his fight means, even if he has to go to extremes to get to that end (i.e., breaking his hand, fighting through a slashed chest). There's also a lot of the quieter humanity of Cap in this book, the artist Cap. In a flashback to himself as a child (more on those later), he draws a girl he sees and admits that it's really the only kind of non-necessary thing he gets to enjoy (his father's dead and his mother doesn't make much money so he has to try to help with odd jobs; also, sad times ahoy, Steve's history has him as an orphan so I can't imagine he'll be helping his mother much longer). Later, in Dimension Z again, he's painting a wall with a depiction of another woman he cares about in a lovely earthen setting. It's just a little heartbreaking but it is very human.

The book examines a lot of Cap that, in the 70 years of his existence, we've managed never to see before. We get the flashbacks to his childhood pre-serum, we get Steve as a father to Ian, the little boy he saved from Zola and named after his grandfather, and we get Captain America in a place where his flag uniform means nothing. For people less interested in Cap's humanity and not punching stuff, there's plenty of that to go around too. Just a really solid book for any comic reader and a great way for someone who's skeptical of Captain America as anything more than a patriotic shill to re-examine their dumb position.

Captain Marvel 9
DeConnick (w) and Andrade (a)

Kelly Sue DeConnick strikes me as one of the writers who really knows her character. There are some books and writers who can get away with writing their books without delving too much into character because either it's a team book and you dedicate less time to people as individuals or because there's enough action or plot or what-have-you to avoid having to think too much on character. Captain Marvel has a very definitive character. More than that, the ancillary characters all have some depth to them. DeConnick has gone to great lengths to quietly create a supporting cast for Carol that cares about her and have a real place in her life. There's no one there who you step back and say "wait, there's no reason for Carol to hang out with this person beyond plot advancement." We have a good sense of Tracy, of Frank, of Jessica, of Tony, and even of Rose and Wendy, both of whom are new characters this issue. Rose and Wendy are in maybe five panels each and you still have a sense of their personality and why Carol would have an interest in them. It's a nice feeling, like we really are looking into Carol's life, not just being shuttled from arc to arc with punches.

I also, looking back, kind of can't believe how much was packed into that issue. That's a good "can't believe." More an "I'm astonished by" than "this is unbelievable! I don't buy it!" kind of reaction. In fact, let's just go back.

I also, looking back, am astonished by how much was packed into that issue. It never felt rushed or unreal (to the Marvel Universe. Not to our dumb universe where no dinosaurs EVER show up) and only felt hectic because we're seeing that Carol's life is hectic. But so much happened beat after beat without sacrificing any one element. It's a pretty masterful representation of the day-to-day life of a true superhero. If you're not reading this book, you're missing out on really great story elements, a very compelling main character and a wonderful little corner of the Avengers universe that has yet to be delved into properly. Also, if you're not yet reading this book, issue nine was a great jumping on point. Very little need to see eight issues before to understand this book (though you'll want to read those afterwards, once you're a little more settled in) and the art in this is pretty gorgeous. Also, cover by Jamie McKelvie who you will hear me gush about whenever I get the chance (look for Young Avengers 1, out next week).

Daredevil 22
Waid (w) and Samnee (a)

After a quick "gone crazy" arc, Matt Murdock is going back to the cheery guy we've seen since the beginning of this book. I'm not going to say that's a let-down, although I want to see the way Shadowland has affected him. It's not a let-down because this book is still so enjoyable on every level. I do think they'll keep building to the darker sides of Daredevil, but for now there are signs of Matt taking steps to try to keep that side of him down, including a new drive to be more open and honest with people instead of keeping as many secrets as he's tended to in the past. There are signs there that he wants to stay as this lighter Matt as long as possible.

ANYWAY, Doctor Spider-Man showed up because Matt's girlfriend thinks he might be crazy and wanted Spider-Man to bring him in, not knowing she was dealing with Doc Spidey. So Spider-Man instead outs him as Daredevil (again) and attacks him in broad daylight. Matt knows there's something wrong with Spidey but his senses all still recognize his voice and his "gangly-ass posture," so he can't confirm that something is definitively off. He understands, after an attack by Stilt-Man who happens to be using some old Doc Ock equipment, why Spidey's been sent to him and explains the situation. This alleviates things between the two mostly-friends and they separate amicably. Matt goes and makes a peace offering to Foggy and explains himself while Foggy explains that he might have cancer. Spoiler. But you hopefully already knew there were spoilers here, I mean, I just explained the whole issue.

I admit that I'm still waiting for the dam to burst and to see the darker Daredevil that's prevailed for the last decade in his comic but, thanks to Waid's writing, I'm perfectly content to watch as this all plays out. It's always a joy to read this book and I'm a big fan of Samnee's art. I was upset when they were taking Paolo Rivera off the book because his art was fantastic, but Samnee has brought a really great feel in, definitely worth taking a look at. Or buy and read it. Don't just look at it. Or look at it once you've bought it? Good compromise.

New Avengers 2
Hickman (w) and Epting (a)

This book is very much maintaining the initial hype I built for it, particularly impressive considering I built a lot of hype for it. This issue has a lot of Reed Richards in it and even THAT didn't upset me. Normally Reed is written in a way that promotes skipping his dialogue and figuring out the threat later. I imagine that's how his supporting characters feel too, often diving into battle without understanding why they shouldn't have. Here, though, considering Hickman's experience with Richards and with the sorts of science that the Fantastic Four are all too familiar with, his presentations are understandable and very interesting. The art that accompanies it, similar to some of the things we've already seen in Hickman's Avengers book, aids tremendously in following his logic, particularly if you're one of the people in the room who isn't Tony Stark or T'Challa.

The world that exploded last issue was a world from a parallel universe that was on a collision course with our world. GOOD NEWS, turns out I wasn't supposed to understand that from last issue, he was just illustrating it to be explained here, so I'm not just a bad comics reader (take THAT, crippling self-doubt). The cause of this is a universal issue, as in it spans every universe and every timeline. Earths are crashing into one another left and right and quickening the eventual heat death of all universes. It's...it's explained and illustrated better in the book, that's just the best way for me to tell you what's happening. As a result of this, the Black Swan, the villain from the last issue who is now in captivity with the Illuminati, has saved this Earth by coming to it and destroying her former Earth which was about to collide and destroy both. The Illuminati is informed and start to think up plans. The plan that prevails is the use of the Infinity Gauntlet and the gems they have. Everyone has their gem ready except, for reasons such as his death, Professor Xavier. The Illuminati split up, some going to find the missing gem and some trying to build a system to warn them of an impending impact. With Captain America out of the room, the others discuss the possibility of needing to blow up another Earth, should one appear.

These are dark days for the Illuminati and, if the Black Swan is telling the truth (wild card), they're going to get darker. Character interactions are remarkably interesting, though, as most people here have a dynamic of some sort with the others. T'Challa and Namor's one-on-one meeting was, as expected, tense and exciting. This book remains at the top of my list on things you NEED to be reading. I know I've heartily suggested every book today but it's largely because these are all really good books. I assure you that I'll be not-suggesting every other book this week unless I'm incredibly lucky for the week. Still, if you had exactly four dollars to spend on comics this week and needed to pick one book, it's going to be hard for me to recommend one that isn't New Avengers.